Germain's peacock-pheasant

Germain's peacock-pheasant is a captivating bird native to Indochina, renowned for its striking appearance and intriguing history. Named after Louis Rodolphe Germain, a French colonial army veterinary surgeon, this medium-sized pheasant boasts dark brownish feathers, red facial skin, and striking purplish-blue spots on its upper body. The males and females are quite similar in appearance, although the females are slightly smaller.

Regarding its taxonomy, Germain's peacock-pheasant is closely related to other peacock-pheasant species such as the grey, bronze-tailed, and mountain peacock-pheasants. It is considered to be one of the oldest forms within its genus, having likely evolved in Cochinchina during the Late Pliocene, approximately 4 to 3 million years ago.

This bird inhabits the seasonal tropical forests of southern Vietnam and eastern Cambodia, with regions such as Cat Tien National Park being prime habitats. The female typically lays two creamy-white eggs. Despite its striking beauty, Germain's peacock-pheasant faces significant threats due to habitat loss and its restricted range. Consequently, it is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and is listed on Appendix II of CITES to aid conservation efforts.